nuance up

Author: kanako

  • Aren’t you using too much 実(じつ)は ?

    There’s a significant gap between the English word “actually” and the Japanese word “実(じつ)は.” This gap is quite substantial, and it’s common to hear “実は” used incorrectly by learners of Japanese. Understanding “実(じつ)は” “実は” is used when the speaker expects the listener to be surprised…

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    kanako

  • 私は病気(びょうき)です Makes Natives Very Concerned

    It’s a very common mistake among Japanese learners to say 「私は病気(びょうき)です」 when they want to express that they are feeling unwell. However, this phrase can make native speakers very worried because it sounds like you’re making a serious confession about your health. When you say…

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    kanako

  • When ありがとうございます becomes ありがとうございました?

    The difference between “ありがとうございます” and “ありがとうございました” can be a bit confusing. By understanding the subtle difference, you can use these phrases more accurately in daily conversations. ありがとうございます (Arigatou gozaimasu) Present tense ありがとうございました (Arigatou gozaimashita) Past tense A clear point to understand is that native speakers…

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    kanako

  • How to say “Also” at the beginning of the sentence?

    In Japanese, “Also” at the beginning of a sentence can be expressed using several conjunctions, each with its own nuance and appropriate context. The four common conjunctions are それに, あと, そして, and また. Here’s an overview of how to use each one, along with example…

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    kanako

  • 〜づらい, 〜にくい, 〜ぐるしい and 〜がたい

    Quiz: How would you express “It’s difficult to sleep because it’s noisy outside“? There are several ways to say “difficult to sleep” in Japanese, depending on the nuance. The answer is at the bottom of this page. Meanings of 辛(つらい) , 難(むずかしい / にくい /…

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    kanako

  • 〜にとって vs 〜として vs 〜には: Differences

    Introduction Japanese learners often struggle with the distinctions between 「〜にとって」 and 「〜として」 because both can be translated as “for” or “to” in English. However, their meanings are quite different. In this article, we’ll explore these expressions and their proper usage. We’ll also look at 「〜には」,…

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    kanako

  • Where Do You Place the も-Particle?

    The も-particle in Japanese is used to indicate that something is in addition to something else, similar to the English word “also” or “too.” The placement of も in a sentence depends on what it is modifying. Common mistake:  The も-particle never comes at the…

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    kanako

  • NOMINALIZER の vs こと

    Nominalizer is similar to Gerund (-ing Form) in English: In English, nominalizers are similar to the gerund form (verbs ending in “-ing”) where verbs are turned into nouns. For example, “eating” in “I like eating” is a gerund. In Japanese, this function is served by…

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    kanako